PULA Anvil 114

Disclaimer
The IEMs were purchased with my own money, and all opinions shared here are personal and based on my own experience using the IEMs. Additionally, this review was written by me in Hebrew for the website AudioKnights, and I used a translation tool to make the review accessible.

What's in the Box?

Pula didn’t skimp on accessories, and for good reason, as I’ll explain later in the review. Inside the box, you’ll find a wide variety of silicone tips (only silicone—no memory foam tips), four types to be precise. There’s also a modular cable with interchangeable connectors for 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm terminations, and a green carrying case (even though the IEMs themselves are blue—don’t ask why). Of course, the IEMs themselves are included, with a unique twist: their colors aren’t identical, and each pair comes in different, varied colors.


The cable is very comfortable; it doesn’t tangle, and it doesn’t have memory retention, which is super convenient. I’d even say it’s the highest-quality cable I’ve tried so far. There are clear markers for the right and left sides on the cable, and the IEMs themselves are also marked. If you’ve read my review of the Letshuoer S12, you know I really appreciate this attention to detail. The cable allows for swapping connector heads for different terminations, as mentioned earlier, and it’s implemented very well. The mechanism for rotating and detaching the connector head feels smooth and easy to use—not at all stiff. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for the sliding ring at the cable’s split. It’s overly stiff to the point of being almost impossible to adjust. At times, I felt like I was going to tear the cable trying to move that ring. This is an area that needs improvement, as it’s not a pleasant experience. By comparison, the S12 cable’s ring didn’t grip the cable very tightly, but it was much easier to adjust, and it held the cable in place just fine.

The carrying case included by Pula feels very premium and comfortable to use. It’s not one of those that you can slip into your pocket—it’s quite large. But that size allows you to store extra silicone tips and even a dongle, which is very convenient. What I didn’t understand, though, is why they included a green carrying case when the primary color of the IEMs is blue. It might sound like a nitpick complaint, but I expected something that would match the IEMs’ color better. That said, the case is far too high-quality for this price range anyway, and it gets the job done. Overall, it’s an excellent accessory.


Remember When I Mentioned Pula’s Generosity with Silicone Tips?
Well, there’s a wide variety of silicone tips included, and it’s no coincidence. Finding comfortable silicone tips for these IEMs is no easy task, despite the extensive selection provided in the box. The nozzle is very wide, and the IEMs themselves sit quite deep in the ear, making it challenging to find a suitable pair of tips. It took me quite some time to find the ones that fit my ears well. Many other reviewers (and even Pula themselves) recommended purchasing third-party silicone tips despite the broad selection they include. After much trial and error, I finally found the pair that worked well for me. Overall, I’m satisfied with the variety offered, and that’s an important aspect. Pula also notes that without a proper seal, the bone conduction driver won’t perform as intended, so keep that in mind.

Build Quality and Design
The IEMs are made of plastic, but they don’t feel cheap in any way. When pressing on them, you can feel subtle vibrations and hear faint sounds, something I’ve never experienced with any other IEM. I’m not sure if the bone conduction driver is responsible for this or if it’s due to their design, but it’s a first for me. The color is unique, and each side has a different finish. The company claims they use wood engraving, which gives each IEM a distinctive texture. I must say, they look stunning—almost like jewelry. I absolutely loved their appearance.
That said, the IEMs are quite tall. This doesn’t affect their comfort, but if you’re not a fan of IEMs that stick out from your ears, these might not be for you—they do protrude significantly. Weight-wise, they’re relatively light, and I didn’t feel any heaviness or pressure on my ears. Once I found silicone tips that fit me, I could barely feel them in my ears, which is essential for long listening sessions in my opinion. Which again, it is not an easy task and take time for tip rolling. I must say, when I used them for long, it did not fit me well, so if you have small ears, this is something to consider. Do yourself a favor, and buy yourself soft eartips if you are getting them.


Sound Performance
The tuning of the Pula Anvil114 is relatively balanced, with a clear emphasis on the midrange, which feels present and full. Regarding the bone conduction driver—honestly, I’m not sure how much it truly impacts the sound. Often, I felt like I was feeling the music rather than strictly hearing it. The driver does produce vibrations, but it’s hard to pinpoint how significantly they influence the sound. Returning to other IEMs, I did notice the absence of this effect, though not overwhelmingly so.

Sub-Bass​

The sub-bass is understated and only noticeable when emphasized in the track. Sometimes, it feels missing altogether, which was disappointing in many songs I listened to. On the other hand, in genres like lo-fi, where low frequencies are prominent, the sub-bass showed up clearly. The bass quality itself is clean and quick, which is equally important. If you prioritize quality over quantity in sub-bass, these might suit you. Personally, I found the lack of sub-bass presence to be a drawback.

Mid-Bass​

Unlike the sub-bass, the mid-bass feels more present. You can feel its impact, though it’s not overwhelming. It’s well-textured and enjoyable, albeit slightly recessed compared to other frequency ranges. Additionally, the bass is fast, allowing subtle nuances to come through. The mid-bass feels dynamic, not like a monotone thump but rather a spectrum of tones. So, if you value bass quality over sheer volume, this IEM delivers nicely.

Midrange​

Here’s where the magic happens. If I had to describe the mids in one word: full. Every vocal, every instrument—everything in the midrange feels alive and textured. No other IEM I’ve tried quite delivers this experience. Instruments like guitars reveal the intricacies of the strumming, pianos sound distinct and enjoyable, and violins have a body and depth that make them stand out. I’m not sure if the bone conduction driver contributes to this, but the result is incredibly satisfying.
In pop songs with many vocal elements, I had a blast—the voices felt vibrant, deep, and never blended into one another. If you’re looking for IEMs with a strong emphasis on the midrange (vocals, most instruments, etc.), these will likely be a fantastic fit.

Treble​

The treble feels somewhat lacking. It’s gentle, balanced, and present but not prominent. In electronic music, instruments like synthesizers felt subdued, and high-pitched vocals also seemed underrepresented. I would have appreciated more treble to capture the subtle details that could elevate these IEMs further, especially in conjunction with their excellent midrange performance.
If you’re sensitive to treble, this might work for you. However, coming from the Letshuoer S12, I found the lack of treble here noticeable. While I didn’t expect the same level of treble as in the S12, a bit more would have gone a long way. It’s definitely an area where these IEMs could improve.


Technical Performance
Whether due to the bone conduction driver or the design, the technical capabilities of the Pula Anvil114 are impressive. The soundstage is vast—there’s a lot of space between instruments and vocals, and it never feels cramped or intimate. The separation between elements is also excellent; no frequency overpowers another, and everything is presented cleanly. The imaging is precise, allowing you to pinpoint the location of elements in the tracks. Detail retrieval is strong, with each element feeling rich and textured. This is a level of performance I haven’t experienced with many other IEMs. Overall, Pula has clearly succeeded in this area.

Comparison​

Letshuoer S12​

Compared to the S12, the Anvil114 feels slightly less bass-heavy, and the treble is significantly more subdued. Personally, I find the imaging on the S12 a bit better. In terms of comfort, I prefer the S12 due to its smaller, metallic build. However, the Anvil114 has a more expansive soundstage, with more texture and life in the midrange. The S12 feels more analytical, whereas the Anvil114 offers more richness and detail.
For genres like electronic music or metal, I would personally go with the S12. But for music featuring a lot of vocals and acoustic instruments, I find the Anvil114 to be the better choice. Overall, I feel the Anvil114 is a significant upgrade over the S12 in terms of technical performance and detail.

Bottom Line​

My feelings about these IEMs are somewhat divided. They're not bad—quite balanced, with life in the vocals and midrange—but the lack of treble and bass is fairly noticeable. For the first time, I found myself needing to use an equalizer to truly enjoy the sound, instead of just experimenting with something else. These aren’t the easiest to recommend without trying them first, as they might not suit everyone’s taste. If you like heavy bass and treble, these may not be for you. But if you value quality bass (not necessarily quantity) and prefer a balanced tuning, they could work well.
The technical performance, especially the soundstage, really impressed me. It’s expansive, which adds a lot to the listening experience. I’m not suggesting you need to EQ them, but it’s something I personally enjoyed, and they responded quite well to it.
As for the bone conduction driver, it’s hard to say if it makes a significant difference. While I felt vibrations, I didn’t feel it was particularly impactful, though when switching to other IEMs, I noticed the absence of these vibrations. The vibrations are subtle, like placing your finger on a vibrating phone speaker, but it’s not the most pronounced effect.
One challenge to note is finding compatible ear tips. The nozzle is wide, and the IEMs sit quite deep in the ear, making it tough to find a comfortable fit with the included silicone tips. Personally, I didn’t immediately fall in love with these the way I did with the S12, which makes it harder for me to wholeheartedly recommend them without a trial period. I hope my review helps you decide whether these will be a good fit for you.
Price: $199.99 (available from HIFIGO).

The bone conduction principle is not a modern one as this one was allegedly conceptualised by Ludwig Van Beethoven, a famous composer and piano virtuoso in the late Classical period. It is said that when he lost his hearing gradually and not to be deterred with this auricular condition, he used his mouth to bite a rod with wire that was connected at the end of the rim of a piano.



PULA Audio is one of the rising audio companies in this year and it was established around in the early 2020's. I saw some of its products when I used to browse around Aliexpress to check some audio products way back a few years ago. Those models were HT100 and HT200, and I remember correctly, the latter model has a strong resemblance of a popular model from Tripowin, The Olina if my memory serves right and also, these sets were of a single dynamic driver.



And finally, I got their latest model and this one is quite different from their sets from the previous generation. This is PULA ANVIL 114 and has a hybrid driver configuration with three driver technologies that were implemented inside. The 114 name, if I'm right about this one, if the series of numbers were broken up separately, 1,1 and then 4, corresponds somewhat to the numbers of drivers from each type of driver technology.



The entire composition of its hybrid driver set-up is comprised of dynamic driver, balanced armature drivers and bone conduction driver in which I'm quite familiar with this kind of driver technology as I tested some IEMs with similar driver technology and also happens to own some sets with this driver (Even my current top favourite TOTL IEM set has this type of driver technology, the Unique Melody Mason Fu Sang).




The single dynamic driver has 10mm diameter with “biometric” diaphragm which offers a faster, more responsive and precise sonic performance with less possibilities of unwanted resonance and distortion for deeper and modulated bass. The dynamic driver is then supported by a 11mm contact-type bone conduction driver with high strength neodymium magnet in a copper chamber as it was able to transmit an ultrasonic vibration through a skull via cartilage as our outer ear is also type of connective tissue too add more “atmospheric” reverberation effect on low frequencies. The rest of the frequencies were handled by four “custom” balanced armature drivers with some composite materials on it, these new generations of balanced armature drivers will deliver a rich, detailed and clarity on vocals and instruments. Each driver is connected to an acoustic tube with a dampener insider.



The drivers were encapsulated in a 3D-printed medium-sized shell chassis made of imported resin material which is known for its hypoallergenic properties with a CNC-milled stabilised wood faceplate that also laminated with resin. Each shell's design has its own unique look with some variances on wood grain that makes it more differentiating on one another. The overall outline of its shell has a mould of a UIEM-style profile that offers more versatile fitting to all types of ear sizes and on its interlocking mechanism, it uses a 0.78mm bi-pin connector for fastening with its detachable cable.



When it comes to wearability, the ANVIL 114 offers a comfortable fitting as it sets well to my medium-sized Asian lug holes without any discomfort. Depending on the bore sizes and material type of the ear tips, it offers an excellent passive noise isolation on how it seals well against unnecessary external noises from the outside.



The ANVIL114's stock cable is quite premium as it is sturdy built with just the right amount of weight and pliable to hold. It is made of a high purity monocrystalline copper in a 4-core structure and braided with a modular termination plug on its end. The included interchangeable termination plugs are 3.5mm, 2.5mm balanced and 4.4mm balanced and all of them are gold plated to ensure better conductivity and offer some resistance against corrosion. I don't encounter any microphonic issues at all even when I move around.



The product packaging of this one is pretty well-accessorised as it was packed with inclusions in a quantifying amount in which this set will be even more useful to operate.



Here are the following contents inside of its packaging box:

• Pair of PULA ANVIL 114 IEM transducers.
• Stock cable
• A large leatherette storage case.
• 2 pairs of double flange silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• 3 pairs of narrow-bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• 3 pairs of balanced-bore silicone ear tips in different standard sizes.
• Modular termination plug (3.5mm SE)
• Modular termination plug (2.5mm Balanced)
• Modular termination plug (4.4mm Balanced)
• User's manual.

The ANVIL 114, despite its multi-driver set-up, when it comes to power scaling, this one is relatively easy to drive that it only needs a sufficient power requirement from devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and basic dongle adapter which usually have a normal gain mode output. But putting it in a better source will assure more dynamics and fuller sound quality that this IEM is able to show its full potential compared to its rather satisfactory performance.




As for its tonality, the PULA ANVIL 114 has a U-shaped sound signature in which has more prominent lows and highs while the midrange is a bit scooped on its overall frequency range spectrum.


(FR graph was provided by @baskingshark , credits to him)


LOWS/BASS:

Apparently, it appears the bass quality of this one is quite well-balanced on both sub bass presence and mid bass consistency. Along it with the support of bone conduction driver, its adds some reverberating effect on its already rumbling sub-bass which are usually produced by instruments like synthesisers, drum machines, low tone bass guitars and double-basses on the punchy, tactual and slam on the mid bass texture.

While the mid bass quality on this one is sufficiently well-bodied as it affects the sound characteristics on some instruments whose notations are on the bass-clef and also, some low pitched male vocals. Bass guitars have a weighty and rasping sound while double-basses have broader and resonant sound on every bowing on its strings or plucking, bass trumpets have full and dark timbre on them and kick bass drums have thunderous and rumbling sound on every stroke. On male vocals, both bass and bass-baritones have a deep reverberating dark timbre on their voices with a full and dense sound.


MIDRANGE:

As I mentioned that the presentation on this particular frequency part is a bit recessed but good thing that it doesn't sound too lean and dry as it has an ample warmth, adequately rich, transparent and with just the right amount of energy for some vocals and instruments. The midrange tuning that affects the tonal colour of vocals and instruments to sound organic but it adds a bit of colouration.

On male vocals, baritones have a rich and plush sound that it add some fullness on Kavalierbariton baritone to sound more steely while both Verdi and dramatic types have full and warmer voice, tenors have brassy, clear and spiciness on their vocals, and countertenors have tender, smooth and emotive voices. As for female vocals, contralto have some good depth and volume on their vocals to sound strong, rich and smoky while mezzo-sopranos have a golden and fiery vocal characteristics on them, and then on sopranos, they sound sweet, crystalline and shimmering that lyric and coloratura sopranos will fare well.

The instruments sound somehow organic but it has some added colouration that affects the timbre on them. On strings, guitars appear to have a balanced and a bit bloomy sound on every plucking and strumming, cellos have full and sonorous sound and violins sound lustrous, lively and sweet. The brass instruments like the trumpets, trombones and horns sound rounded, powerful and velvety respectively. On the woodwinds, concert flutes sound mellow and poetic, piccolos sound clear and light, clarinets have lustrous sound and saxophones sound reedy and expressive. As for percussives, snare drums have hard, incisive and impactful sound, tom-toms have warm and resonant sound on every stroke, field drums have a hard and a bit booming sound on them, and kettledrums have deep, resonant and rumbling sound. Pianos sound on a balanced side as it has the right amount of warmth to sound a bit rich with some sweet and clear.


HIGHS/TREBLE:

The treble response of this one is rather balanced and smooth as it has a slight elevation on the upper mids then a noticeable scoop in the presence area to give that lustre and enough crispness and not to sound piercing, shrill-y or strident. Despite some scooping and dips on the presence area, it is still able to give a satisfactory clarity and definition of its overall sound that also bears on vocal details and attack on instruments in both rhythmic and percussive ones.

To think that the treble air extension of this set is rather moderate and acceptable in some regard but I wish that it augmented more of its airy presence volubly, at least it has a sufficient sparkle. Cymbals have a lustrous and resonant sound, hi-hats’ distinctive chick-y sound is a bit dull, glockenspiels have bell-like and lustrous (how many times I already mentioned this term) and celestas have a velvety and golden sound.


SOUNDSTAGE, IMAGING AND OTHER TECHNICALITIES:

Depends on what types of ear tips that will be pair on this set, it can project at least reasonably spacious sound/speaker stage up to the cavernous level as it has above-average to wide lateral span, excellent height and depth on its overall sound field dimension in which the bone conduction driver somehow added some roomy reverberations to add some illusory expansive sound.

On the stereo imaging, it portrays a soundscape in an atmospheric, 3-dimensional stereo presentation in multi-layered tones and dynamics of vocals and instruments that were orderly arranged in a clean, pitch-black sonic canvas where I can pinpoint and panned out the exact positioning of certain elements with some good separation on one another.

The cohesiveness of its multi-driver set-up is also excellent as all the drivers perform harmoniously without any out of phase or distortion issues as the tandem of dynamic driver and bone conduction driver to add depth and definition on its already fluid transient response while BA drivers delivers a detailed and clear sound output.

This one is also quite pretty resolving on resolution capabilities on both macro-dynamics and micro-detail capabilities as it has solid note compression on the former while a fairly sharp definition on micro-detail retrieval as it captures some nuances and details like notation attacks, vocal ends and instrumental reverb tails from an audio track.


PEER COMPARISONS:

BQEYZ WINTER

• While this set is considered as an IEM earphone with hybrid driver configuration, it has some differences from driver implementation and build materials.
• This one sports a larger 12 mm dynamic driver and a different type of bone conduction driver which is a piezoelectric-based one and the way of the BC driver configuration is more of an air conduction rather than a contact conduction as it supports the expansive and opened sounding of its high frequencies.
• While it's on par with the ANVIL 114 in terms of quantity and quality of inclusions on its product packaging , it also has a good quality stock cable but it doesn't have a modular termination plug feature unlike the ANVIL 114's stock cable.
• The Winter has a more balanced-neutral sound profile with some emphasis on the high frequencies.
• It has balanced bass response with rumbly sub bass presence and punchy mid bass, a well-balanced, linear, clean and a bit energetic midrange that highlights vocals clarity and instruments’ detail and definition and a shimmering and airy treble response.
• The Winter also has a capable technical performance as it can also project a spacious sound/speaker stage dimension in a concave-like stereo imaging presentation with some well-stacked of layers of tones and frequencies from certain instruments and vocals sections, and it also has a remarkable resolution capability but its focuses more on micro-dynamics.

BQEYZ WIND

• Another hybrid driver set-up model from BQEYZ with bone conduction driver on its internals but this time it uses a different type of this particular driver.
• Unlike its predecessor, The Winter, this one uses a copper-type bone conduction which will be a hybrid of air and bone conduction process in terms of operation, and it was encased in semi-open back aluminium alloy shell chassis.
• Like all BQEYZ sets, this one is pretty packed with quality and quantifying amount of accessories, and while the included stock cable is of a premium quality, it doesn't have a modular termination plug option.
• This set has a warmish-neutral sound profile that presents a well-balanced, neutral tuning with just a bit of warmth on its general tonal profile.
• It has a mid bass-focused bass response but it still has some sub-bass rumble on it, a well-textured, neutrally-tuned midrange that delivers a more accentuated vocals and instrument presentation, and then, a smooth and balanced treble with modest amount of air.
• On its technical performance, this set can project a roomy sound/speaker stage as it has a wide lateral span, good height and depth in an well-layered atmospheric-like stereo imaging presentation along with strong contrast on macro-dynamics.

KIWI EARS QUINTET

• KIWI EARS’ first hybrid driver IEM in the initial-level midrange segment and it equips more driver technology inside of its composite shell chassis.
• Aside from a piezoelectric bone conduction driver inside of its international, it also has a micro-planar transducers, balanced armature drivers and dynamic drivers.
• Unlike the ANVIL 114, the quantity of this unit's inclusions is rather sparse for its asking price.
• This one has a mild U-shaped sound signature with a more balanced yet almost neutral tonality.
• The bass response of this one is more of a sub bass-centric as it has sounds a bit tighter and precise, a bit recessed yet clean and energetic midrange presentation, and a tad brighter and airy treble response.
• On technical capabilities, while it has wide lateral span and height reach on its perceived soundstage, its depth is rather unremarkable as it presents a rather linear and shallow presentation.

The PULA ANVIL 114 is definitely one of the most enjoyable sets that I've tested this year. It performs with its bone conduction driver that I've only experienced on some TOTL flagships like from Unique Melody and the indication that it has contact-type bone conduction driver that wherever you tap lightly the shells, it will produce that springy effect. As an audio enthusiast happens to own some IEMs with bone conduction drivers, this device will truly deliver that bone conduction experience as if that you are centre stage in a perceived sound field in which bass-clefs instruments will produced those distinctive reverb tails with bit rumbling depth across the sonic spatial cues to even convey that notional roomy, atmospheric effect (as long as you will find a proper fitment on it).

With its tuning which sounds somehow balanced that all types of music lovers whether they are casual or experienced audio enthusiasts will enjoy its fun and engaging sound profile along with its well-packed with quality inclusions in a reasonable price, the PULA ANVIL 114 might one of the top contender of the IEM of this year.

The PULA ANVIL 114 is exclusively available in HIFIGO, Check out the unaffiliated link below:

★★PULA AUDIO ANVIL 114★★

SPECIFICATION:

MODEL: PULA ANVIL 114
IMPEDANCE: 16.5Ω
SENSITIVITY: 105dB
FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 5Hz – 40kHz
CABLE LENGTH: 1.2m
PIN TYPE: 0.78 2-PIN CONNECTOR
PLUG TYPE: MODULAR (3.5mm, 2.5mm, 4.4mm)
DRIVER UNIT(S): (1) DYNAMIC DRIVER + (1) BONE CONDUCTION DRIVER + (4) BALANCED ARMATURE DRIVERS


TRACKS TESTED: ( * = 16-bit FLAC, ** = 24-bit FLAC, *'* = MQA, '*' = DSD, *'= .WAV)

Alison Krauss -When You Say Nothing At All *
Jade Wiedlin - Blue Kiss**
Led Zeppelin - When The Levee Breaks **
Mountain - Mississippi Queen *
Queen - Killer Queen **
Guns N' Roses - Patience *'*
Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven '*'
Sergio Mendes- Never Gonna Let You Go '*'
Pearl Jam - Daughter **
Roselia - Hidamari Rhodonite *
Assassin - Fight (To Stop The Tyranny)*
Celtic Frost- Visual Aggression *
New Order - Blue Monday *
The Corrs- What Can I do (unplugged version) *
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Voodoo Child *
The Madness- Buggy Trousers *
Metallica - Motorbreath **
Mariah Carey- Always Be My Baby *
Destiny's Child - Say My Name *
Malice Mizer- Au Revoir *
Mozart - Lacrimosa *
New York Philharmonic Orchestra - Dvorak- Symphony 9 " From the New World." *
Eva Cassidy - Fields of Gold (Sting cover)*
Michael Jackson - Give In To Me *
Exciter - Violence and Force *
Diana Krall - Stop This World **
Debbie Gibson - Foolish Beat *'*
The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection**
Suzanne Vega – Luka **
Lauren Christy – Steep *
Ottoman Mehter - Hucum Marsi *
Diana Damrau - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte*
Type O Negative - Black No.1 *
Felix Ayo - Vivaldi: Presto **
Three Tenors - Nessum Dorma *
Mercyful Fate - Witches' Dance *

P.S.

I am not affiliated to PULA AUDIO nor receive any monetary incentives and financial gains as they provide me a review unit for an exchange of factual and sincere feedback from yours truly.

Once again, I would like to send my gratitude to Ms. Hermine Qiu and Mr. Kerwen Wu of HIFIGO for providing this review unit. I truly appreciate their generosity and trust towards me and other reviewers.

PULA ANVIL 114

Let's get started. So before I begin, I would like to thank HiFiGo for the opportunity to review this set. This absolutely does not sway my impressions in any way of this set, as I'm not one to be easily persuaded to part with his ethics or responsibility to the community. This is my first Pula product I've had the opportunity to listen to, as I never did purchase the PA02, so I was very excited to get the chance to try this BCD driver set out. So buckle your seatbelts and prepare for a 100% unbiased review with heartfelt observations and thoughts. now on to the fun stuff.



The unboxing experience was pretty nice. The front sleeve has Pula and then what appears to be the tuners autograph on it. The back of the box has all the pertinent specs. This is a 1 +1 + 4, or more clearly, a 1 DD + 1 BCD + 4 BA tribrid. The inner box is hard cardboard and makes a great storage box. Inside, we have the IEMs, and a large carry case. Inside, we have a very high quality and attractive modular cable (screw fastener), and a variety of stock silicone tips in baggies. The green carry case is rather large, spacious, and would carry the IEMs, cable, tips, and maybe a tiny dongle DAC rather comfortably. Now stock tips never work for me, as they are usually too small for my cavern ears, so I chose Spinfit CP100+ XL tips, and they provided the best fit and seal and sound. I liked them not just because of the seal and fit, but because they have a hard stem core, and the Anvil 114 likes this hard type of material to sound best. The shells are HUGE. Not going to play around here. These are very large shells, with long nozzles, so they will stick out of your ears (even caverns like myself), and it might take some shifting to get them to sit properly and comfortably? The resin shells are beautiful, and lightweight. That's a uniqueness of the Anvil 114. This thing is like an illusion, as it's packing 6 drivers inside, but it feels like the shells are empty. They feel almost weightless. This does help with the comfort once you've figured out how to properly set them in your ears. I had very few issues with fit once I used the Spinfits and learned the best insertion depth and positioning. I could have very easily left the stock cable on and used it, and for awhile, I did just that, but in the end, the desire to cable roll took over, and I ended up finding synergy sisters in the Pula Anvil 114 and Tripowin Altea cable 3.5mm SE. The Pula Anvil are easy to drive from any source, but definitely scale with power, and will optimize with higher power sources.



So now that we have the unboxing experience out of the way, let's move on to the sound? That's what you're all here for anyways!! It's time to get it on!!...but first, let me share with all of you some information about the IEMs themselves. Internals, specs, and a graph? fun times indeed!

THE SPECS :

Pula Anvil 114 :

Technical Information: ​

>Impedance: 16.5Ω.

>Frequency Response Range: 5Hz~40kHz.

>THD+N: ≤0.5%@1kHz.

>Connector Type: 2-Pin 0.78mm.

>Sensitivity: 105dB/mW.

PULA brings us the latest ANVIL114, a brand new multi-driver hybrid IEM packing a 10mm biometric diaphragm dynamic driver, one 11mm bone conduction driver, and four high-performance balanced armature drivers on each side. ANVIL refers to the equipment used by a Blacksmith to bend and shape metal into objects, it is a symbol of the universe being forged and created. PULA takes inspiration from the mighty Blacksmith's ANVIL, designing the pair with solid stabilized wooden face covers!! PULA ANVIL114 promises outstanding sonic performance with excitingly unique looks and a unique tribrid setup as well!!

>Six-Driver Tribrid Setup.

>1 Dynamic Driver, 1 Bone Conduction Driver, and Four Balanced Armature Drivers.

>10mm Bio-Metric Diaphragm Dynamic Driver.

>11mm Bone Conductor Driver Unit.

>Four-High-Performance BA Drivers.

>Solid Stabilized Wooden Face Covers.

>Unique Texture for Each Unit.

>Balanced, Smooth Sound with Natural Tone.

>Deep, Tight Bass Response.

>Crisp, Accurate Vocals.

>Precise and Detailed Treble.

>Four-Core High-Purity Single-Crystal Copper Silver-Plated Cable.

>Swappable Termination plugs(3.5mm+2.5mm+4.4mm).




Frequency response graph courtesy of @baskingshark.

PRICE : $199.00 (on sale for $189 - BFS)

Available for purchase at this location.

The Gear :

What did I use for my listening sessions for my review??

I source roll often, from the Little Bear B4-X, iBasso DC Elite, Hiby R3 II (transport for DCE), Sony NW-A15 (untethered) and Sony NW-A25 (+B4-X) as my primary sources. The most used was the Cayin N3 Ultra (Modern Tube mode, M gain, no EQ, slow roll off filter) and Hiby R3 II + B4-X + DCE.



Music used for the review and all my reviews in general?

Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant to Be
Robert Glasper - Canvas
Alfa Mist - Antiphon
Hugo Kant - Far From Home
Alfredo Rodriguez - Coral Way
Bob Marley & the Wailers - Survival
Rob Van Bavel Trio - Dutch Weather
Junior Kelly, Bounty Killer, and Capleton - The Good, The Bad, and the Blazin'
Dominik Eulberg - Avichrom
Abysmal Dawn - Phylogenesis
Megadeth - Rust in Peace
Drive By Jehu - Self Titled
Cognizance - Phantazein
Metallica - 72 Seasons
In Aphelion - Reaperdawn

SOUND IMPRESSIONS :

Dynamics : 4.5
Resolution : 3.5
Details : 4
Instrument separation : 4
Imaging : 4.5
Sibilance : 1
Soundstage : 5

Overall score : 4/5

BASS/MIDRANGE/TREBLE :

The Pula Anvil 114 is unique. This is truly one of the most unique listening experiences I have heard in my life. I suspect 90% of it has to do with the implementation of the BCD. Now, I have experience with BCD thru the Penon Fan 3, but the sensations and the spatial cues presented here are so different and far advanced of what I hear in the Penon Fan 3, but more on that later. Instruments float, hover, and image around the ears, behind the ears, and on a vast stage, that places voices center and north of center. It's a fascinating aural treat.

The bass is noticeable for it's punch. There's an emphasis on mid bass punch and presence, so kick drums are authoritative, elastic, and pulsing. Now, this might make you say "umm...this might be too much for me?!" Not necessarily, as there is a tactility, resolve, and speed to the bass, so there isn't much in terms of lazy, lumbering, or lingering decay. So this means there's not a whole lot of sub bass. Not to say there isn't any, or that there's roll off, but the sub bass takes a back seat to the mid bass, and it's resolution, but again, when it's called upon, like in songs from Dominik Eulberg's Avichrom, it appears, it hits, and it's a very pleasurable and hard hitting bass, when called upon, but not a basshead bass response, or a bass that's ever overbearing or overly warm. It does not overstay it's welcome. That might be a detriment to some. Nor for others. Certainly not for me.

Midrange is clean, transparent, and has a touch of warmth, so never dry, but also not overtly wet either. There's enough warmth to provide some character and emotion when it comes to vocal delivery, piano timbre, and cello and stand up note weight, but it's not bloaty or dark. There's a transparency and space within the midrange that provides a vast soundstage that the midrange operates out of, and vocals are positioned not smack dab center in projection, but just north of center. So there's some height to the stage, as well as depth, so the midrange is not flat or narrow. Not this set. Just the opposite. Upper mids are quite restrained, but present. So what you get are incisive upper mids, but safely tuned, so there's a lack of bite or resolution as a tradeoff for lack of sibilance and crispiness or rough edges in notes. So there's a softness in the upper midrange that helps make these a strong all-arounder contender, because you can listen for long periods with a large library of music, and never run into sharpness or fatiguing tones, because that area of the frequency is reigned in, but make no mistake, it's not making for a dull listen, as there's enough incisiveness and clarity that we don't get bogged down.

In turn, the treble never gets strident or spicy. Timbre is fairly natural for BA highs, and there's enough shimmer and incisiveness that crashes, rides, and cymbals have authority and crispness, without being strident, unnatural, fatiguing, or metallic. There's air, but it's not the focus of the sound scene. The giant soundstage is obviously nudged by the BCD, but the air also pushes it along, so it's not blunted or rolled off, but it does go right up to the edge, and then comes back, so again, this helps with running into any fatiguing treble, but also keeps the resolution from being optimum, and it keeps the tone from ever reaching an ethereal texture (like say the Tri i3 MK III or the ISN EBC80). That's the word I'm looking for! Texture. There's a slight lack of texture in the highs and upper mids, but it's not something that effects the overall sonic presentation, but adds to the uniqueness of the tuning, and makes for great long listening sessions.

OVERALL :

The Anvil 114 excels with it's cavernous soundstage, with it's wide left/right projection, with instruments hovering and swirling around your ears, and information and details popping out from back of the ears and above your head. It's FULLNESS. It's cleanliness. It's a solely unique imaging that any audiophile worth his weight should take the opportunity to experience. For $199.00, the Pula Anvil 114 is providing sonics that are usually found in much more expensive sets, and honestly, this set should be selling for $500+ and this would be fair. It's not. It's in a range of affordability where anyone can experience this phenomenal stage, imaging, and bass presence, with a unique midrange that has to be heard to be believed. This is top 5 for me at the moment, and there will be a place in my rotation for the Pula Anvil 114 for as long as I'm capable of hearing sounds! This is TRUTH, and free of any hyperbole. I can listen to metal (The Anvil 114 does metal like a BOSS), reggae, jazz, hip hop, R&B, electronica, or pop, and handle it with precise aplomb! I kid you not! Feed the Pula tubes, and the tonal nature of this IEM becomes creamy smooth, with above average layering and instrument placement that stereophonic with stage that's capacious and precocious!! Say that three times fast!!

COMPARISONS :



Penon Fan 3 : So it's a natural comparison, but these IEMs couldn't be more night and day. They are tuned completely different, with the only commonality being BIG AND FULL STAGE! But the stages are constructed differently. The Anvil 114 has what I would call a wondrously FUN stage, while the Fan 3 has a 3D stage that is more traditional and sonically accurate (aka not as exaggerated). The midrange is warmer and more incisive with the Fan 3, with lower mids popping way more forward than the 114. The bass is more resolving and quick, despite having one less DD, as the sub bass is more impactful on the Fan 3, but gives away with a slower bass response, with much lighter mid bass punch. So pick your poison. Mid bass punch? Anvil. Sub bass thump? Fan 3. Midrange is cleaner and clearer by a country mile for the Anvil. It's also got a wider stage scene, and more depth of field, while the midrange of the Fan 3 is more musical, warm, and incisive, and as such, has a bit more traditional resolution and bite in the upper mids and treble, and a touch more air. Though I wouldn't call the Fan 3 safely tuned, I wouldn't consider it shouty or crispy or strident. On the contrary. It's just tuned a bit freer than the Anvil as far as letting the shimmer fly, and this might also be an effect of the BCD in the Fan 3, which is tuned to give the treble more wispiness than the Anvil? Timbre is advantage Anvil, as it's a bit more natural, with drums and percussion in particular standing out as full and natural, with excellent timbre. I didn't mention this before, but the drums and percussion presentation on the Anvil 114 is SPECIAL SAUCE! They are precise and ethereal, and at the same time crisp and elastic with a weightiness that's so fun and powerful. Yep, there's that fun word again! So it's pick your poison time again. Want incisive and bitey treble with a touch more air? Fan 3. Want more resolving bass with more elasticity, quicker note decay, and mid bass punch? Anvil 114. Ying and Yang of the BCD world. It's all about mood with these two, and with dueling midranges, the better one is a matter of how you feel on a particular day? I'd say advantage Anvil 114, but only because if that sways you to want to explore that unique special sauce sonic stage scene of the Anvil 114, that's quirky and voodoo magic, then I've done a good job in conveying just how cool this IEM is, and I think everyone should get the opportunity to walk into this room, take your seat, look up, and be in for one hell of a BCD ride. Advantage : Pula Anvil 114.

ISN H60 : The H60 come in at around $350.00. These are top two in my rotation for me, and it's my benchmark IEM. So bass isn't close. The dual DD isobaric bass of the H60 punches deeper, hits harder, has more mid bass punch, and presence. Now the Anvil does have more note resolution and quickness. It's more elastic than the H60, but this doesn't make up for the overall superiority of heft, warmth and dynamics. The H60 simply has more dynamic bass, and hence, more fun and engaging. Now the midrange of the H60 is similar to the midrange of the Fan 3, so what was stated about that IEM above, mostly slots for the H60. The stage isn't as full or wide, but there's more depth and less height, and less clarity. The instrument separation and detail retrieval pop more often and have greater spatial cues on the Anvil 114, but have less character and warmth, so it all depends on if you want clarity or character? Treble air and extension are advantage H60. There's also more incisiveness, crispness, and shimmer in the H60. There's more tactility, but this might offend some sensitive to treble? I've never run across that, but the Anvil provides high quality treble that's a safer option, while the H60 provides a more satisfying top end. Advantage : ISN H60 (but it's sooooo close).

AFUL Performer 5+2 : The P7 come in at around $285. Until very recently, this sat at the very top of my rotation. It ticked all the boxes for me personally. Bass, midrange resolution, treble extension, stage, and tonality. But to be fair, the Anvil 114 is a different flavor altogether, and it can't be beat when it comes to soundstage presentation and concert hall sound. The P5+2 sound downright congested when we compare the two. Ok, that's a huge exaggeration, but it's to stress the point that the Anvil 114 isn't going to win against the P7 when it comes to technicalities, treble, or resolution, but the AFUL is what I would consider a safe, traditional sonic deployment. It does a lot of things right, but it's not the most unique offering sonically. The Anvil is. The Anvil does. Bass wise, they come very close to being equals. Similar presentations from a technical POV. Midrange is more forward in the P5+2, and has more incisiveness, but with less echo and less spatiality and wide positioning. It's more closed in and centered. If you're a treblehead, or you love treble extension, then this isn't a fair fight. P7 wins hands down, but these are complimentary IEMs, and if you have to choose, that will come down to a personal preference and choice : Do you want traditional technical, or do you want BCD uniqueness that's also technical, but more concert hall positional? you're not going to get that over the top ear to ear detail retrieval from the AFUL. That distinction belongs to the Pula Anvil 114. Advantage : Pick Your Poison.

CONCLUSION :

Truthfully, I've had a blast with the Pula Anvil 114 since the day it arrived on my porch. I'm in love with the sheer size of it's sound scene, the way instruments and information float and hover around the side and back of your ears, and pop out of nowhere above your eyes, and just the uniqueness of that tall and wide stage. There's depth of field, but it's limited to the midrange centering, and then there's that punchy, resolving bass, that provides the fun engine to this wonderous soundscape. Now, would I prefer more treble extension and upper mids bite? Damn right I would, but this just comes down to my personal preference, because nitpicking, the Pula Anvil 114 is a beginner audiphiles dream! It's a $200 IEM that performs like a $500 IEM. It's an IEM that is not dull, that provides a POV that's unlike any other IEM, and it provides all-arounder ability, so it's not an IEM that will collect dust in your rotation due to changing tastes in music from month to month. It's the quirky, talented utilitarian brother that garners all the attention at family BBQ's, and you wish you were like! I cannot throw my recommendation forcefully enough towards the Anvil 114. It should be a staple in any self-respecting audiophile's rotation, and I have no doubt that when you do add it, you'll rave about it, get addicted to it's sonic characteristics, and come back to thank me later. Ok, you don't have to do that last part, but just remember who told you?

RECOMMENDATION LEVEL : BOSS LEVEL - HIGHEST 10/10.

Thank you so much for reading and remember to be water with your audio luv! When you do...AUDITORY ZEN UNLOCKED!